Jim Leach will soon be out of a job, but lots of people have suggestions on what he could do.

Leach the 30-year congressman from Iowa City who represented the 1st District and, most recently, the 2nd District, lost a close election to Democratic challenger David Loebsack on Nov. 7.  The winner will join the new Congress in January.

Within hours of the election defeat, Leach, 64, was suggested by Dan Clark of Muscatine and others across the state as a candidate for the vacant University of Iowa president’s position.

This week, Republican and Democratic colleagues in the U.S. House urged President Bush to consider Leach as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

“I can’t think of any American better qualified to represent our interests before the United Nations,” said Rep. Jim Walsh, R-N.Y.

“He is the most diplomatic politician I have ever met,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.

To be clear, there’s already a White House nominee for U.S. ambassador. In fact, John Bolton has been serving as the temporary ambassador since August 2005. However, he still hasn’t won confirmation in the Senate and  his “recess appointment” will expire in January.

If Bolton’s nomination finally falls through, Leach would seem to be a well-qualified candidate.

His resumé is long and impressive, and much of it involves international relations.  Some of the highlights:

n Currently, he is the top Republican on the House International Relations Committee and is chairman of the subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

n Early in his career, he served as a foreign service officer at the State Department in the 1960s and then in the 1970s under George H.W. Bush, the former president who in the 1970s was the U.N. ambassador.

n He co-chaired the U.S. Commission on Improving the Effectiveness of the United Nations,  1991-93. 

n Much of his advanced studies at the London School of Economics and Johns Hopkins University covered topics in the international political arena.

 Leach has announced no plans for the future and so far has commented little on others’ suggestions. 

From our standpoint, nominating Leach for U.N. ambassador seems especially appropriate. Beyond his extensive education and relevant experience, he’s built a reputation for integrity, even-handed temperament, outstanding intellect and a nonpartisan approach to negotiations.

If Mr. Leach is willing, we encourage the Iowa congressional delegation to support him for the U.N. job. We expect the nation would be ably represented by his talents and dedication during this time of turbulent world affairs.

In fact, it also could be his highest calling and a crowning achievement on a distinguished life of public service.